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Gov. Ron DeSantis signs sanctuary city ban into law during Okaloosa County stop

DeSantis spoke to a standing-room only crowd that filled the Okaloosa County Commission chambers in Shalimar before he signed the bill, saying the legislation was about enforcing existing law.

"We have a strong interest as a state when we have criminal aliens in our custody to effectuate their removal from our communities," DeSantis told the crowd. "And so sanctuary cities basically create law-free zones where people can come to our country illegally, commit criminal offenses, then walk right out the door and pretend you didn't do it. I'm happy to say, once I sign this bill, in Florida that will not happen."

Gov. Ron DeSantis holds the signed law banning sanctuary cities in the state at a press conference in Shalimar on Friday, June 14, 2019.(Photo: Jim Little/jwlittle@pnj.com)

The passage of the law during the legislative session was one of the most contentious bills to come up for a vote.

The law essentially requires local governments in Florida to follow federal law on immigration and cooperate with the federal government in immigration cases.

Democratic critics of the law called it a xenophobic bill that makes Florida an anti-immigrant state.

"It is a xenophobic and hateful bill that would only create harm in our communities of color, negatively impact our economy and prevent thousands of tourists from visiting our beautiful state," said Terrie Rizzo, chairman of the Florida Democratic Party, in a press release Friday. "Governor Desantis had the option to put Florida residents first, but instead he has put Florida on the map as one of the most anti-immigrant states in our country. This is disgraceful."

DeSantis' 2018 opponent, former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, called the new law an extension of President Donald Trump's "attacks on immigrant families across the country.”

"In signing this bill, Ron DeSantis is endorsing a dangerous policy that aims to frighten, target and persecute thousands of families currently enriching our state and country with their talent, culture and work," Gillum said. "This goes against who we are as Floridians, and as Americans."

Other critics say the bill isn't needed because no Florida city had declared itself a sanctuary city, but DeSantis said the sharp opposition to the bill is evidence to the contrary.

"A lot of people said to me, 'There aren't sanctuary cities in Florida, why do we need this?'" DeSantis said. "Well if that's the case, then great, we'll just keep going on, but I think the fact that you had a lot of people complaining about this, that tells you there were at least some places that wanted to embrace the sanctuary policies."

DeSantis signed the bill surround by supporters and the bill's lead sponsors, Sen. Joe Gruters, who is also chairman of the Florida Republican Party, and Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks Friday at a news conference in Shalimar at which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill prohibiting state and local governments from having sanctuary policies.(Photo: Courtesy of Ron DeSantis' office)

He was also joined by Pensacola area legislators Sen. Doug Broxson, R-Gulf Breeze; Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola; and Rep. Jayer Williamson, R-Pace.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz praised DeSantis for signing the law, calling it the "strongest ban on sanctuary cities" in the country.

"While other states and other places in the country may be willing to watch our borders erode and lose their significance and their meaning, I'm glad that in the state the whole country looks to, that in Florida we're taking a stand for the safety of our citizens," Gaetz said. "We're taking a stand for the rule of law."

DeSantis said he decided to sign the bill in Okaloosa County because he wanted to make another visit to the Panhandle, and Gaetz had urged him to sign the bill in Okaloosa County.

"I've done bill signing in other parts of the state, and Congressman Gaetz had been asking me to do one of our bill signings (here)," DeSantis said. "And we thought it was a good idea."